For most talented prospects from the Class of 2010, the recruiting process is just getting started. Others have been confident enough to go ahead and make their decisions.

Chula Vista (Calif.) Eastlake junior linebacker Tony Jefferson announced he was verbally committing to Stanford earlier in the month.

"Yes, I committed to Stanford on September 1," Jefferson explained. "They sent me an email and told me to call them, so I called Coach Jim Harbaugh.

"He had me on speaker phone and was actually in a meeting with his other coaches. When I told them I wanted to commit it got kind of crazy. I have a really good relationship with their coaches.

"My sophomore year they invited me to their campus to look around and watch their game against Notre Dame. I went to their camp and did very well there. They told me I had a good chance of getting an offer then.

"I just like the academics at Stanford a lot. If I don't make it to the pro level I know I'll have a good educational background. That and the alumni were really good."

While Jefferson verbally committed to the Cardinal there's a long way to go until he signs on the dotted line. That said, he doesn't anticipate changing his mind.

"I actually got an offer from Fresno State today, and there are some other Pac 10 schools that were recruiting me like UCLA and Arizona State.

"My brother lives here also, though, and that's not too far from Stanford. I'll be able to get support from him. I'm going to keep my options open but right now Stanford is where I want to go."

Jefferson has been dynamic early in the season for Eastlake. In two games he has recorded 26 tackles and a sack defensively, while rushing for 165 yards and three touchdowns. He has also returned a punt and an interception for scores.